Aardman, StudioCanal Team on 'Shaun the Sheep' Feature

Aardman Animations in the U.K. and France's StudioCanal are teaming up to co-produce Shaun the Sheep, according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter. The project will be a feature film based on the plucky wooly creature first seen in Nick Park's Oscar-winning Wallace and Gromit short film, A Close Shave.

Mark Burton, who co-wrote the screenplay with directors Park and Steve Box on Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) will co-write and co-direct Shaun the Sheep with Richard Starzak.

StudioCanal will be shopping the project at the upcoming Cannes Film Market.

The plot of the feature has Shaun and his sheepdog friend Bitzer forced to take their entire flock on an adventure to the big city to rescue the Farmer.

Shaun the Sheep has already spawned a hit kids's stop-motion animated TV show and a spin off preschool program, Timmy Time, both of which have sold to virtually every territory in the world.

Aardman, whose big screen credits also include Chicken Run and The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! will produce Shaun the Sheep with StudioCanal providing financing and distributing the film in the U.K, France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. StudioCanal will also handle international sales duties.